Newbie to say hello to everyone, I got a Astro Saber III,
H04KDH9PW7AN
Flashport 0000010000009
AP_R03.20.01
DSP I05.00.18
EMC R01.00
KG1 DES-XL
Is it a very old model?
Is it a digital one?
I saw someone selling $160 VOCODER board that
VER 7.12.00.00
DSP N08.02.06
Flachcode 1800010000009
or other one NTN7749G VOCODER CONTROLLER
Could anyone tell me is it better than my old one very much or similar only? Should I upgrade to that board or stay it away?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Download
Should I upgrade to that board?
Moderator: Queue Moderator
What you have now is a conventional only, analog only radio with a 512k (most likely) vocon in it. It is not flashed for digital operation.
IMHO you should upgrade the board. It will allow you to use many more of the capabilities of the radio. I would stay away from ebay for this and try to get one from a reliable seller on the board. You are much more likely to get exactly what you want and you cannot beat the advice and technical support you will find here.
Many of the boards on ebay ( I am not necessarily referring to the ones you mentioned) have analog only firmware and cannot be upgraded for digital. I would watch my step. Like I said, I would trust the board on this one. There are many experts here who have helped me in the past and I am sure will be willing to help you.
For starters, please take the time to read r0f's Newbie Guide to Astro Portables which is "Sticky" at the top of the Astro section. Its a concise and very useful summary of just about everything you need to know to be able to ask the right questions and get the answers you are looking for.
I hope that helps and welcome to the board!
Mike
IMHO you should upgrade the board. It will allow you to use many more of the capabilities of the radio. I would stay away from ebay for this and try to get one from a reliable seller on the board. You are much more likely to get exactly what you want and you cannot beat the advice and technical support you will find here.
Many of the boards on ebay ( I am not necessarily referring to the ones you mentioned) have analog only firmware and cannot be upgraded for digital. I would watch my step. Like I said, I would trust the board on this one. There are many experts here who have helped me in the past and I am sure will be willing to help you.
For starters, please take the time to read r0f's Newbie Guide to Astro Portables which is "Sticky" at the top of the Astro section. Its a concise and very useful summary of just about everything you need to know to be able to ask the right questions and get the answers you are looking for.
I hope that helps and welcome to the board!
Mike
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The Pager Geek
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- What radios do you own?: Disney FRS
Thanks for the specific info in your post!!!
It's a 512k controller. It has digital DSP based on the "I", however the revision puts it at VSELP, not IMBE. So, even if the flashcode could be changed to add digital, it would only be VSELP.
The upgrade question is: Why spend the money JUST for a firmware upgrade, when you can buy a "ready to go" 1meg programmed for IMBE? The simple answer is, buy a 1meg. As a caveat though, the radio will need to be retuned once you put the new board in. The new hardware will need to get aquainted with it's new neighbor (RF Board.)
Hope that helps and good luck! (We're all counting on you!)
tpg
It's a 512k controller. It has digital DSP based on the "I", however the revision puts it at VSELP, not IMBE. So, even if the flashcode could be changed to add digital, it would only be VSELP.
The upgrade question is: Why spend the money JUST for a firmware upgrade, when you can buy a "ready to go" 1meg programmed for IMBE? The simple answer is, buy a 1meg. As a caveat though, the radio will need to be retuned once you put the new board in. The new hardware will need to get aquainted with it's new neighbor (RF Board.)
Hope that helps and good luck! (We're all counting on you!)
tpg
Experienced Provider of Useless Information
hmm
i disagree on purchasing a new vocoder.
the 1 meg board only allows a couple of flash-memory size dependent options to be added to the radio.... apco packet data and omnilink trunking are the only two that come to mind... (?)
as it sits, it can be upgraded to full IMBE (P25) operation and H38 Smartzone trunking...
not to mention that the seller of the vocoders on ebay HAS burned a few guys in the past selling analog only boards.
just MHO
<updated>
I meant to say that I wouldn't upgrade the radio with a fleabay board! However, bumping the 512k board to IMBE/Smartzone *MAY* be more economical... just depends...
doug
the 1 meg board only allows a couple of flash-memory size dependent options to be added to the radio.... apco packet data and omnilink trunking are the only two that come to mind... (?)
as it sits, it can be upgraded to full IMBE (P25) operation and H38 Smartzone trunking...
not to mention that the seller of the vocoders on ebay HAS burned a few guys in the past selling analog only boards.
just MHO
<updated>
I meant to say that I wouldn't upgrade the radio with a fleabay board! However, bumping the 512k board to IMBE/Smartzone *MAY* be more economical... just depends...
doug
Last edited by batdude on Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
BRAVO MIKE JULIET ALPHA
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
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The Pager Geek
- Posts: 1250
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2002 10:31 pm
- What radios do you own?: Disney FRS
What's the cost of a firmware upgrade?
What's the cost of a used 1meg with Digital DSP with a flash ready to go from someone on this board?
I agree that when it comes to parts, eBay is pot-luck. MAYBE you will get what you're looking for that works... in the 1st 3 purchases.. but you never know.
I know of a few people that I trust on here with 1meg boards ready to go, for less than a cost of an upgrade.
Doug, your logic is: Upgrade the 512 (with less options) for more than a ready to go 1meg with recent firmware because you'll never use the options a 1meg has?
"It does not make sense. If chewbacca lives on Endor, you must aquit."
tpg
What's the cost of a used 1meg with Digital DSP with a flash ready to go from someone on this board?
I agree that when it comes to parts, eBay is pot-luck. MAYBE you will get what you're looking for that works... in the 1st 3 purchases.. but you never know.
I know of a few people that I trust on here with 1meg boards ready to go, for less than a cost of an upgrade.
Doug, your logic is: Upgrade the 512 (with less options) for more than a ready to go 1meg with recent firmware because you'll never use the options a 1meg has?
"It does not make sense. If chewbacca lives on Endor, you must aquit."
tpg
Experienced Provider of Useless Information
I think Doug is under the impression the 512K board in question can be changed to IMBE simply by forcing a codeplug into it. Not so.
Todd
Todd
No trees were harmed in the posting of this message...however an extraordinarily large number of electrons were horribly inconvenienced.
Welcome to the /\/\achine.
Welcome to the /\/\achine.
nope
no no no
the dsp in the 512k board can be bumped to IMBE, probably not dsp 8, but hey...
correct, this is not just a flash-bump.
d
the dsp in the 512k board can be bumped to IMBE, probably not dsp 8, but hey...
correct, this is not just a flash-bump.
d
BRAVO MIKE JULIET ALPHA
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
